Grapevine plant named ‘Clarion’

ABSTRACT

The invention is a new and distinct variety of grapevine plant named ‘Clarion’ that is characterized by its grapes with a moderate juice total acidity (average of 7.73 g/L) making it suitable for wine production, its grapes that lack less desirable aromatic compounds that are typical of cold climate hybrid grapes, its grapes with floral notes including lilac and tropical fruit notes, its good growth habit without excessive vigor, and its grapes with a loose cluster architecture.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was made with government support under 2017-51181-26829 and 2011-51181-30635 awarded by a Specialty Crop Research Initiative Competitive Grant. The government has certain rights in the invention.

Botanical classification: Vitis spp. hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Clarion’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of grape plant botanically known as Vitis spp. hybrid ‘Clarion’, referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Clarion’.

‘Clarion’ resulted from an ongoing research program in Excelsior, Minn. with the objective of the breeding program to develop new cultivars of cold-hardy grapes suitable for grape production in the Eastern United States. ‘Clarion’ originated from a cross made in June of 1992 between the Vitis spp. hybrid cultivar ‘VB 86-4’ (not patented) as the female parent and ‘Frontenac’ (not patented) as the male parent. ‘Clarion’ was selected as a single unique plant from the seedlings that derived from the above cross in 1998.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by hardwood stem cuttings in 2009 by the Inventors at a research center near Excelsior, Minn. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by hardwood stem cuttings and tissue culture using meristamic tissue has determined that the characteristics are stable and true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Clarion’ as a new and unique cultivar of Vitis.

-   -   1. ‘Clarion’ exhibits grapes with a moderate juice total acidity         (average of 7.73 g/L) making it suitable for wine production.     -   2. ‘Clarion’ exhibits grapes that lack less desirable aromatic         compounds that are typical of cold climate hybrid grapes.     -   3. ‘Clarion’ exhibits grapes with floral notes including lilac         and tropical fruit notes.     -   4. ‘Clarion’ exhibits a good growth habit without excessive         vigor.     -   5. ‘Clarion’ exhibits grapes with a loose cluster architecture.

‘VB 86-4’, the female parent plant of ‘Clarion’, differs from ‘Clarion’ in having grapes that are larger in size and in having less cold hardiness. ‘Frontenac’, the male parent of ‘Clarion’, differs from ‘Clarion’ in having grapes that are black in color with a higher juice total acidity (average of 13.4 g/L) and in being less cold-hardy. ‘Clarion’ can also be compared to the Vitis cultivars ‘Itasca’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,847) and ‘La Crescent’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,617). ‘Itasca’ is similar to ‘Clarion’ in having grapes that are similar in color, have a low total acidity, and similar sugar content at harvest. ‘Itasca’ differs from ‘Clarion’ in being more cold-hardy and in having grapes that are smaller in size a harvest date that is earlier. ‘La Crescent’ is similar to ‘Clarion’ in having grapes with similar cluster and berry weights and harvest date. ‘La Crescent’ differs from ‘Clarion’ in having grapes with more berry shelling, less even ripening within clusters, and a lower sugar content.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date. Disclosures related to research trials without any offers for sale include website listings by American Society for Horticultural Science, USDA REEIS, Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, Midwest Winepress, University of Wisconsin, American Journal of Enology and Viticulture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photograph represent typical mature berry clusters on vines of ‘Clarion’ as grown under standard field conditions in Excelsior, Minn. The photograph was taken of a grapevine 20 years in age and provides a view of a vine in fruit of ‘Clarion’. The colors in the photograph is as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new grapevine.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. The measurements, observations and descriptions that follow describe a plant 20 years in age as grown outdoors in a trial vineyard in Excelsior, Minn. with detailed botanical data collected during the 2015 to 2019 growing seasons. ‘Clarion’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in temperature, day length, light intensity, soil types and water and fertility levels, pruning, pest control and other cultural practices without, however, any variance in the genotype.

Many of the descriptors are based on those set forth by the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources in collaboration with the Office Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) and the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. All dimensions are given as means. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Typically first two weeks of June.         -   Plant type.—Perennial fruit producing vine.         -   Plant habit.—Open and orderly.         -   Propagation.—Hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous. -   Mature canes:     -   -   Color of canes.—One-year-old canes; a blend of 175A, 165B             and 166A, new canes; 144D, blend of 178A, 166A and 174A.         -   Length of canes.—One-year-old canes; average of 1.8 m (prior             to pruning).         -   Diameter of canes.—Average of 6.5 mm mid cane.         -   Diameter at nodes.—Average of 8.3 mm.         -   Internode length.—Average of 7.5 mm.         -   Lenticels.—Dormant cane; Average of 1.2 mm in length and 1             mm width, round to oblong in shape, 200A and 201A in color,             15 per area 5 mm in width and 1 cm in length, new cane; 12             to 15 with 30 unformed per area 5 mm in width and 1 cm in             length with same characteristics as mature cane.         -   Cane cross-section shape.—Oval to round.         -   Surface.—Smooth with no hairs.         -   Density of hairs on mature cane.—None.         -   Tendril pattern on shoot.—2,0,2,0 etc. (two nodes with a             tendril followed by one node without).         -   Tendrils forked.—Yes.         -   Tendril texture.—Glabrous.         -   Tendril length.—5.5 to 12 cm in length, 1.5 to 2 mm in             diameter.         -   Tendril color.—Young shoots 144A, mature 166A.         -   Bud width.—4 mm.         -   Bud length.—6 mm.         -   Bud shape.—Triangular.         -   Bud color.—A blend of 165A and 165B.         -   Bud burst.—Medium. -   Trunk:     -   -   Bark texture.—Flaky, vertical segments up to 2 cm in length             and 4 mm in width.         -   Bark color.—Striated, 165A, a blend of 202A and 201A, and             200D.         -   Trunk shape.—Oval.         -   Trunk diameter.—An average of 3.5 cm on diameter measured 20             cm above soil on 6 year-old-trunk. -   Mature leaves: Descriptors including the designations N1 through N5,     relate to “OIV—Code Numbers 065-093” of Preliminary Minimal     Descriptor List for Grapevine Varieties (Dettweiler E., 1991,     Institut fur Rebenzüchtung, Geilweilerhof, Germany).     -   -   Length of blade.—14 cm.         -   Width of blade.—13 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Fig-like.         -   Number of lobes.—5.         -   Blade margins.—Incised into lobes with lobes moderately to             deeply serrated.         -   Length of primary (midrib) vein n1 from the tip of the blade             to the petiole sinus.—10 cm.         -   Length of petiole compared to length of middle vein             (midrib).—Middle vein is 1.5 cm longer than length of             petiole.         -   Length of vein n2 from the tip of the first major lobe of             the blade to the petiole sinus.—9 cm.         -   Length of vein n3 from the tip of the second major lobe of             the blade to the petiole sinus.—7.7 cm.         -   Length of vein n4 from the tip of the third major lobe of             the blade to where it joins the vein measured in n3.—6 cm.         -   Length of vein n5 from the tip of the first tooth proximal             to the petiole sinus to where it joins the vein measured in             n4.—4 cm.         -   Leaf vein anthocyanin.—None.         -   Density of erect hairs between the leaf veins on lower leaf             surface.—Absent.         -   Length of n2 teeth.—Up to 1 cm.         -   Width of n2 teeth.—Up to 1.7 cm.         -   Length/width ratio of n2 teeth.—1.38 cm.         -   Length of n4 teeth.—1.2 cm.         -   Width of n4 teeth.—1.2 cm.         -   Length/width ratio of n4 teeth.—1 cm.         -   Shape of teeth.—Convex.         -   Arrangement of petiolar sinus.—Wide open.         -   Shape of petiolar sinus.—Wide open.         -   Shape of base of petiolar sinus.—Lyre-shaped.         -   Depth of petiolar sinus.—4 cm.         -   Width of petiolar sinus.—1 cm.         -   Petiole.—7 cm in length, 2 mm in width, 144B in color and             suffused with 183A on sun exposed side.         -   Shape of upper sinuses.—Urn-shaped.         -   Shape of base of upper sinuses.—Rounded.         -   Arrangement of upper sinuses.—Wide open.         -   Glossiness of adaxial and abaxial surface.—Adaxial surface             is glossy and abaxial surface is not and has low density of             small, intervenal trichomes.         -   Pubescence on adaxial surface.—None.         -   Pubescence on abaxial surface.—Very minute erect hairs on             veins.         -   Blistering on adaxial surface.—None.         -   Color of adaxial leaf surface.—137B, veins 145A.         -   Color of abaxial leaf surface.—138B, veins 145A.         -   Color of leaf petiole.—144D blend of 166A, 175A, and 178A.         -   Center lobe size.—6 cm in length and width.         -   Lateral lobe size.—5.5 cm in length and width.         -   Basal lobe size.—5 cm in length and width.         -   Density of foliage.—Moderate. -   Young shoots:     -   -   Form of shoot tip.—Mainly open.         -   Density of prostate hairs on tip.—Moderately pubescent.         -   Anthocyanin coloration of the prostrate hairs on tip.—Absent             or very weak.         -   Density of erect hairs on tip.—None observed.         -   Petiole pigmentation.—A blend of 145A, and 145C and striated             and suffused with 183A, B on sun exposed side.         -   Shoot attitude.—Semi-erect.         -   Shoot pigmentation (internodes and nodes).—A blend of 145A             and 145B and striated and suffused with 183B on the dorsal             side and a blend of 145A and 145B with very slight hints of             183B on the ventral side.         -   Young leaves.—144C in color on upper surface, 144B on lower             surface, upper surface glossy, lower surface matte, veins             match surface colors. -   Flowers:     -   -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant.         -   Mean time of flowering.—June 11 when grown in Excelsior,             Minn.         -   Color of calyx.—144A.         -   Flowering shoot vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Flowering shoot attitude.—Semi-erect to erect         -   Sepal number.—5, sepals fused into continuous calyx.         -   Calyx shape.—Ring-shaped.         -   Calyx size.—<1 mm in length, 2 mm in width.         -   Calyx apex.—Fused to ovary.         -   Calyx base.—Fused to pedicel.         -   Nectary.—1.5 mm in diameter, <1 mm in length, N144A in             color.         -   Calyx surface.—Glabrous.         -   Petals.—5 to 6, fused in calyptra cohering at summit; 2.5 mm             in width and 1 mm in depth and separating at base; 3.8 mm in             width, 2.2 mm in depth; reflexed after dehiscence, 144A in             color, margins slightly transluscent and 155B in color.         -   Shape of cluster.—Conical.         -   Size of cluster.—10 cm in length, 2.5 cm at base (3 mm at             mid section).         -   Number of flowers/cluster.—Average of 150 and up to 65 on             wings if present.         -   No. of clusters per cane.—Average of 2.         -   Flower buds.—4 mm in length, 2 mm in width, 144B in color,             obovate in shape, glabrous and slightly glossy surface.         -   Size of individual entire flower.—4 mm in height, 1.1 cm in             width (to end of stamens).         -   Pollen fertility.—Fertile based on use in controlled             crosses.         -   Reproductive organs.—Fully developed stamens and fully             developed gynoecium.         -   Color of stamen.—Anther: 160C, Filament: NN155C.         -   Stamen number.—Average of 5 to 6.         -   Filament length.—3.02 to 3.84 mm.         -   Anther.—1.08 to 1.14 mm in length.         -   Pollen quantity and color.—Abundant and 15D in color.         -   Pistil.—1, ovary is 1.5 mm in length and 1 mm in width at             base, urn-shaped, glabrous surface color 144B, stigma 1 mm             in width and <1 mm in length, color a blend between 20B and             144B.         -   Pedicel.—2.11 to 2.89 mm in length and <1 mm in width,             surface glabrous, color 144A.         -   Peduncle.—1 cm in length, 1 mm in width, 144A in color,             glabrous surface.         -   Position of first flowering and fruiting node.—Typically             node 3. -   Fruit:     -   -   Cluster length.—Average of 15.5 cm (ranges from 14 to 19             cm).         -   Cluster shoulders.—Typically 1 (rarely 2).         -   Cluster diameter.—Average of 9 cm (ranges from 7 to 10 cm).         -   Cluster weight.—119.8 g (ranges from 92.0 to 150.3).         -   Cluster density.—Medium to very dense, average of 102             berries per cluster.         -   Berry weight.—1.65 g (ranges from 1.16 to 1.77 g).         -   Berry length.—Average of 1.4 cm.         -   Berry diameter at equator.—Average of 1.4 cm.         -   Berry shape.—Round.         -   Berry cross-section.—Circular.         -   Berry, color of skin.—Just before maturity; 144B tinged with             152C, at maturity; 152B, suffused with 166B with moderate             bloom of 201D.         -   Berry, color of flesh.—165C with slight tinge of 147C with             very weak or no anthocyanin presence.         -   Berry firmness.—Very firm.         -   Berry skin thickness.—Moderate.         -   Berry skin bloom (cuticular wax).—Moderate to heavy.         -   Berry size uniformity.—Medium.         -   Berry, particular flavor.—Neutral, not strongly aromatic.         -   Length of pedicel.—6 mm.         -   Pedicel diameter.—1.4 mm (3 mm at base).         -   Pedicel color.—A color between 160A and N144A.         -   Peduncle (rachis).—An average of 14 cm in length and 3 mm in             width (mid point), a blend of 160A and N144A with some             anthocyanin shading of 174A.         -   Berry, separation from pedicel.—Difficult.         -   Berry, presence of seeds.—Fully developed.         -   Seed number/berry.—3.         -   Seed length.—5.5 mm.         -   Seed width.—3.5 mm.         -   Seed length/width ratio.—1.57.         -   Seed weight.—0.04 g.         -   Seed color.—A blend of 200C and 161A. -   Fruit chemistry and harvest: Values represent the means (with ranges     in parentheses) for fruit harvested over five growing seasons     2015-2019.     -   -   Harvest date.—September 25 (September 19-October 9).         -   Time of beginning berry ripening.—First week of August.         -   Brix.—23.84 (21.7-24.5).         -   Ph.—3.186 (3.12-3.28).         -   Titratable acidity.—7.73 (5.50-8.36) g/L.         -   Malate.—3.7 g/L.         -   Berry use.—Wine production.         -   Berry storage.—Not applicable, used directly for wine making             at harvest. -   Vineyard performance: Based on observations compiled over five years     (2015-2019).     -   -   Susceptibility to powdery mildew (uncinula             necator).—Moderate.         -   Susceptibility to downy mildew (plasmopara viticola).—None.         -   Susceptibility to black rot (guignardia bidwellii).—Moderate             to high.         -   Susceptibility to grey mold (botrytis cinerea).—None.         -   Susceptibility to foliar phylloxera (daktulosphaira             vitifoliae).—Moderate.         -   Susceptibility to crown gall (agrobacterium             tumefaciens).—None.         -   Susceptibility to phenoxy herbicide drift (e.g.,             2,4-d).—None.         -   Berry splitting.—None.         -   Berry shelling.—Low.         -   Vigor level.—High.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 5, low to moderate             in U.S.D.A. Zone 4.         -   Wood ripening.—Good. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine plant named ‘Clarion’ as described and illustrated herein. 